Hartlepool MP defends Labour’s latest stance on Brexit

The party says it would negotiate to keep Britain in the EU’s single market and customs union, and accept continued freedom of movement, during a transition period after March 2019.

Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said it would be “as short as possible, but as long as is necessary”.

Mr Hill told the Mail: “It is very clear to me that the Tory agenda for a hard Brexit is unrealistic and has the potential to do great damage to our economy.

“Labour’s position on Brexit is unequivocal – we are leaving the EU as mandated by the people and that is what the majority of voters in Hartlepool want to see happening.

“What Labour has always pledged to do is negotiate a Brexit that protects jobs, our economy, workers rights and business interests.

“We can only do that by mapping out a measured and detailed strategy for Brexit rather than simply taking a wrecking ball approach to negotiations.

“What Keir Starmer is talking about is protecting our interests during the transitional period after leaving only, not presenting a back door opportunity to stay in the Customs Union or Single Market, and I will be pushing for that transitional period to be as swift and short as possible.”

But a spokesman for the group Leave Labour said: “Single market membership is EU membership in all but name. Labour must honour the referendum.”